Regarding recent dispute at Bat Nha Monastery
Spokeswoman of Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Nguyen Phuong Nga answered question regarding on the information that Viet Nam forced about 400 followers of the Plum Village to leave the Bat Nha Monastery, Lam Dong province:
First of all, I would like to make it clear that there is absolutely no such thing as ‘Viet Nam forced 400 Plum Village followers to leave Bat Nha Monastery.’ The information saying that there have been clashes between the authorities and the "monks" and "nuns" at Bat Nha Monastery, causing several wounded and many others detained, is totally false.
The fact is that from May 2008 to September 2009, a large group gathered in Bat Nha Monastery to practice under the Plum Village Zen tradition. They have previously been given permission by Ven. Thich Duc Nghi, the abbot of Bat Nha Monastery, to practice meditation at the monastery. However, Ven. Thich Duc Nghi then withdrew his permission and asked them to leave the monastery, returning the worship place to him. Ven. Thich Duc Nghi repeatedly asked them to leave the monastery but they insisted on staying there. This led to the disagreement between the Buddhist followers of Bat Nha Monastery and the followers of the Plum Village.
After the incident, the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha took the lead to resolve the issue. Accordingly, during the three months of Lent (An Cu Kiet Ha - Retreat) in the Buddhist tradition (from 8th May to 2nd September 2009), these Plum Village followers could stay on in Bat Nha Monastery. After this period, in order to end the dispute, they would have to move out. However, after the 3 month period, the Plum Village followers did not leave the monastery.
Greatly discontented with this situation, on September 27th 2009, a number of Bat Nha followers gathered at the monastery to pressurise the Plum Village followers to leave. This is the dispute between the two groups of Buddhist followers: the Bat Nha followers under Ven. Thich Duc Nghi’s abbotship and the Plum Village followers. The local authorities, under their mandate and power, have tried to maintain law and order to avoid clashes and ensure the absolute safety of citizens’ life and property. They also advised the Bat Nha followers not to do anything that could harm the dignity and body of the Plum Village followers. In the morning of September 28, all Plum Village followers left the Bat Nha Monastery. Some returned to their residences or former places of religious practice. At present, some 194 Plum Village followers still take temporary residence in Phuoc Hue Pagoda. There is no such threatening towards these people at Phuoc Hue pagoda as quoted in some pieces of news.
It is the unchanged policy of the Vietnamese State to respect the freedom of religion and belief. The Vietnamese State always provides every favourable condition for religious organisations to practice in accordance with the registered programmes and contents as well as the local regulations on social law and order. The followers of Plum Village organised the meditation course in the Bat Nha Monastery without permission from the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha and the competent authorities. The Plum Village followers who came to practice meditation also failed to register their temporary residence in accordance with Vietnamese law. This violates the regulations on administrative procedures of Viet Nam, the rules and the Charter of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha. They are advised to return to their former residences or pagodas to continue their religious practice. When they arrive in new places, they must observe the regulations of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha and Vietnamese law.
